dickbraswell

Word for Today:  November 2

Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise…  Luke 23:43

Here a guilty criminal simply asks Jesus to:  “Remember me when You come into your kingdom…”

• He was not a “church” member.
• He had not been baptized in water.
• He had no character and no good reputation.
• He had run with the wrong crowd.
• He had broken the Law.
• He had violated decency and destroyed that which was innocent and good.
• He was guilty.
• He was worthy of death.

And justice had caught up with him.

Now… this common criminal understood and received what the Jewish Nation and organized religion was blind to comprehend.  Jesus is no respecter of persons!  He loves criminals and drunks and prostitutes and homosexuals and thieves and robbers and murderers… He is color-blind!  He is LORD OF ALL!  He is compassionate and kind and loving and forgiving.  His kingdom is open and available to “whosoever shall call on the Name of Jesus…”

How odd that God would choose a murderer as the initial trophy of His Divine Grace… cleansed, restored and made acceptable by the Blood of Jesus.

“Grace, Grace, Marvelous Grace…”

            God wants your Dreams to Come True.  He has made you a dreamer and a visionary.  He has placed in you the capacity to dream and to have visions.  He wants you to plan on big things.  He is a Big God and He want you to expand your horizons and elevate your sights.  He wants you to DREAM BIG.

            God wants you to Work with Him.  There is a big difference between working FOR God and working WITH God.  Most of us have spent our entire Spiritual Lives endeavoring to work FOR God.  This is good, but it is not the best.  It is better than nothing, but it is not what God really wants.  God wants you and me to WORK WITH HIM.

Mark 16:20   And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

            We must understand that working with God is the way to make our dreams come true.  

satan does not want you to have a dream.  he does not want you to be excited about your future.  he does not want you to believe for big things and to dream big dreams.  he is a dream stealer.  he is a discourager.  he is a mountain builder (God is the mountain mover).  The devil is threatened and hell is terrified every time a Believer moves into the place of working with God.  When we understand that we are living in the Blessing of God, we are enabled to Dream Big.  When we see ourselves as Working with God we are enabled to Dream Big.  When we Dream Big Dreams and determine to attempt the impossible, we please God.

Hebr. 11:6   But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God is a REWARDER.  He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him and dream big dreams.

            As we begin, I want to show you how to make your dreams come true.  Do you want them to?  Do you believe that they can come true?  Do you believe that God will work with you to fulfill your dreams and visions?  It is prophesied that in the last days dreams and visions would be widespread.

Acts 2:17   And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

 Write these down:

1.  MAKE CERTAIN YOU’ER ARE IN GOD’S FAMILY

You cannot work with God if you are not in His Family.  If you are not working with God you are working with the devil.    The Bible says this.

Matt. 12:30   He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

The reason many fail and never have their dreams come true is because they have never been delivered out of satan’s kingdom of darkness.  If you want your dreams to come true, you must make God’s Dream come true.  His dream is that all men might be saved. 

John 3:17   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Are you saved?  Are you sure of it?  Can you prove it? 

2.  GET ALL OF GOD THAT YOU CAN GET

            God has more in store.  You can never exhaust His Supply or run out of God.  He is more than enough.  He is a God of abundance.  He is an Abundant God.  The problem is most of us are satisfied with as much of God as we have.  There is more.  Salvation is just the beginning place.  When we get Born Again, we are babies.  When we begin to get more of God, we begin to grow up.  Everyone right now is in some stage of spiritual growth.  Some are juveniles,  others are babies.  Many are teen-agers.  Few are adults.  God wants us to get all of Him that we can get.  If our dreams are to come true, we must get all of God that is possible.

            Religion will fight this.

            Denomination with fight this.

            Your family will fight this.

            Your friends will fight this. 

            The devil will fight this.

            Your reasoning will fight this.

            These should be reasons enough for you to know that God wants you to have MORE.  satan wants you to have less.  The world wants you to stay stuck where you are.  God wants you to have more.  If you are to make your dreams come true, you need all of God you can get.

How much of God do you have?

3.  BELIEVE THE WORD

            Believing what God says about you and your dreams is a must.  Most people believe what they think is reasonable and rational instead of what the Bible says.  It is easier to believe what you see instead of what God says.   Believe the Word.   This is a choice you make and a mental attitude you must keep.  It is a mindset.  The Word calls this “renewing the mind.” 

Rom. 12:2   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The one absolute in the world is the Word of God.  Everything else is fluid and flexible.  The Word is unchangeable.  If we are to realize our dreams, we must stay anchored to the unchanging Word.  Jesus said that heaven and earth would pass away, but His Word would never pass away.  Men change.  History changes.  Things change.  God and His Word never change.  They are IMMUTABLE.  They are established.  Our Dreams are connected to His Word.  When we Believe His Word we are on the way to seeing our Dreams come true. 

4.  SHIFT YOUR THINKING

            We were reminded recently to think Blessing instead of Miracle.  “Blessing” is eternal and irrefutable while “Miracle” is temporary and sporadic.  “Blessing” is what we have when we get saved while “miracle” is what we can get in a crisis.  “Blessing” is always God’s best.  “Miracles” are for emergencies. 

            It is important for us to see ourselves as God sees us.  How do you see yourself?  What do you look like to you?  What are you saying about yourself and what are you thinking about yourself?  Is your thinking in line with what God thinks and says?  The Bible tells us to think right.   As believers, we are to think with our heart and not with our head.  Head thinking is reasoning.  Heart thinking is Faith.  There are two kinds of minds.  The Bible talks about the CARNAL MIND and the SPIRITUAL MIND. 

Rom. 8:6   For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Carnal come out of the head and is influenced by the flesh.  Spiritual comes out of the heart and is influenced by the Word. 

5.  MAKE THE CHOICES GOD WANTS YOU TO MAKE

            You determine whether your dreams will come true.  It is not up to God.  It is up to you.  Dreams are connected with choices.  Choices are decisions.  What you choose is what you get.  You can choose good or you can choose bad.  You can choose right or you can choose wrong.  You can choose the World or you can choose the Word.  When you choose what is right and what is spiritual, you make a connection with God.  When you connect with God you connect with all the Creative Power in Heaven.  This Divine Connection releases God’s Creative Power in you to make your dream come true.  When you choose Life and Blessing, you become a partner with God.  You actually work with God and not for God.  When you work with God your dreams will come true.  You will receive what you believe.  You will have what you choose. 

Deut. 30:19   I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

6.  WRITE YOUR DREAM DOWN

            If your dream is important to you, you will be willing to write it down.  When you write something down you tend to be specific.  Most people are too general in the dreams they dream and the hopes they have.  It is important to be specific.  Details are important to God. 

            Years ago God sent a preacher our way to show us how to be specific concerning our dreams.  We were living in a parsonage next door to the church.  We did not own any property and we did not have any assets.  We wanted a house.  We wanted a place of our own.  A place where we could paint the walls the colors we liked and decorate it like we wanted to.  This preacher preached on Believing God.  He showed us how to be specific concerning our dreams.  He encouraged us to WRITE DOWN in detail the kind of house we wanted and the kind of property we desired.  Pat and I did that.  We wrote down on a piece of paper that we wanted (dreamed for) a house.  A two story house.  A house with five bedrooms.  A place with acreage.  A home with at least three bathrooms.  We like brick.  We wrote that down.  We liked trees and woods and we wrote that down.  We wrote down that for which we were dreaming.  I put the description on a small piece of paper and placed it in my wallet.  I would see it every time I opened my wallet.  It would remind me of my dream and it would cause me to tell God about it.  I carried the description in my wallet for almost a year.  The church grew, the school grew and the old Lott Road Church needed the parsonage for additional classrooms.  In those days, the church “voted” and they voted to give us a housing allowance so that we could purchase what we wanted where we wanted it.  A contractor in our church assisted me and we built our dream house on two acres on Jack Williams Road.  It had two stories, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a fireplace, and a double garage.  It was our dream.  We wrote it down.  We saw it before we had it.  We said it before it came to pass.  God gave us the desire of our heart.   WRITE IT DOWN!

Hab. 2:2   And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

7.  REFUSE TO DOUBT

            Your biggest hindrance to a fulfilled dream is doubt.  Even when nothing seems to be “moving” to bring your dream to pass, keep on believing.  This is Faith.  And without Faith you cannot please God.  See it.  Say it.  Act on it.  Talk it out loud.  Tell the devil you will have it.  Let God know you mean business.  Refuse to be moved by feeling, by emotion or by what you see in the natural. 

Mark 11:23   For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Doubt is the dream stealer.  Doubt makes you give up just before your dream comes true.  Doubt will give you all kinds of reasons to call it off.  Doubt will negate your faith and call God a liar.  Doubt is what gives the devil a place to work.  Do not doubt.  Do not question.  Do not reason.  Do not judge your dream by what you see.  Doubt will make you give up.  Resist doubt like you would resist sin. 

8.  REJOICE IN YOUR DREAMS FULFILLMENT

            Rejoicing is what opens the door to your dreams.  Rejoicing is acting like you have the dream before you have it.  Rejoicing is thanking God for it before you have it.  Rejoicing drives the devil crazy and confuses the demons on assignment to destroy you and your dreams.  Rejoicing is praising God for the answer before you have it.  Rejoicing is enjoying your dream before it comes to pass. 

            About 12 years ago, I had a dream for an airplane.  I had been flying for several years and I really wanted a plane of my own.  It was my dream.  I wanted one.  Airplanes are expensive and there was no way I could purchase one with my own financial resources.  But I wanted and needed an airplane.  It was the desire of my heart.  It was my dream.  At this time in our Spiritual development, Bro. Clarence Matheny came across out path.  He was a Faith Preacher.  He taught us to rejoice and praise God for our answer (dream) before we actually had it.  I decided to try out what Clarence taught. 

I began to plan on my airplane.  If my plane was on the way, I wanted to be ready for it when it came, so I began to up-grade my flying skills.  I enrolled in a flight training program  and began to work on my Instrument Rating.  As this was taking place (it took about a year), I decided to fly my plane before I had it. 

My ’67 Chevrolet became my airplane.  Every time I drove it, I acted as if it were an airplane.  The dashboard became an IFR panel… with all the bells and whistles… all the latest electronic and navigational radios and equipment.  The steering wheel became the control yoke and the gas pedal became the throttle.  When I reached sixty miles per hour, I would pull back on the steering wheel and watch the instrument panel as I became “air borne.”  I “flew” my  Chevrolet for nearly two years when one day a businessman friend from my hometown and attended a morning service at our church.  Upon leaving, he took me aside and said, “Dick, I hear you have been praying and believing for an airplane…. Is that right?  I told him “yes” and that I had been “flying” my Chevrolet for the past two years.  He replied, “Go and find what kind you want and call me.  I will pay for it.”  My Chevrolet turned into a six passenger Cessna 206 with full IFR instrumentation.   Never understate God.

9.  TELL ABOUT IT

            When you tell about your dream coming true, you sort of put God on the spot.  It is important to tell not only what God has done for you but what God is going to do for you.   Brag about it.  Tell your friends and neighbors about it.  Share it with your relatives.  Tell your boss about it.  Tell those you work with about it.  Shout it from the housetop! 

Isa. 42:11   Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 

Rev. 12:11   And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Word for Today:  November 1

I have discovered that there are three main problem areas in the lives of Believers.

These problem areas, if left alone and not controlled, will prevent any Christian from living and walking in victory.   The problem areas are:

• The Flesh… which needs to be crucified and kept crucified.
• The Mind… which needs to be renewed and kept renewed.
• The Tongue… which needs to be controlled all the time.

The flesh is constantly warring against the spirit.  I do not need to tell you this.  You experience it every day.  It rebels against the spirit.   It is at odds with God.  It hates the Word.  It resists the Holy Ghost.  It likes to run loose.  It demands attention.  Uncontrolled, it causes misery, guilt, condemnation, and failure.  The Bible tells us how to have victory over the flesh.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Gal. 5:16

The way to overcome flesh is to walk in the Spirit.  It is our flesh that is constantly giving us trouble.  It is my flesh that causes me the most grief.  Flesh is not sinful in itself.  It was created by God.  It is when we allow flesh to be controlled by a carnal mind and an uncontrolled will that we are tempted to sin… and most often yield to it.

To walk in the Spirit is a choice we make and it means to have our total life (spirit, soul and body) controlled by the Holy Ghost.  Focus today on Walking, Talking and Living in the Spirit…

And your flesh will be no problem

For though we walk in the  flesh,we do not warafter the flesh: 2Cor. 10:3  

For the weapons of our warfareare not carnal, but through God to the pulling downof strong holds  2Cor. 10:4   

Casting) imaginations,  and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge  of God, and bringing into captivity every to the obedience  of Christ; 2Cor. 10:5  

Proper equipment to accomplish a purpose is very important.  Every athlete needs the proper equipment if he is going to be a champion.  Football players.  Golfers.  Baseball players.  Those who play tennis.  Runners.  Basketball players.  Those who play soccer.  Boxers and weight-lifters.  Every athlete who wins has to have good, functioning and efficient equipment in order to do so.   

 God has equipped every Believer with adequate and efficient resources to overcome the devil and live in absolute victory; to live and not die.   

If you are saved you have this equipment. 

If you are walking in the Spirit, you are aware of this equipment. 

If you are Baptized in the Holy Ghost, you should know how to use this equipment. 

This specialized spiritual equipment is, in fact, powerful weapons that are “mighty through God” to the “pulling down” of “strongholds.”  If you are born again, you have these weapons.   They all are adequate and they all efficient; they are all good and they all work.   Here are some of them:

• Faith.
• The Word.
• The Gospel.
• Prayer.
• Speaking in Tongues.
• Singing in the Spirit.
• Praying in the Spirit.
• Worshipping
• Fasting.
• Love.
• Forgiveness.

          However, there is an “ultimate weapon” in the arsenal God has given us.   It is a weapon of mass destruction (as far as the devil is concerned).  It is this subject that we want to explore as we continue our study of how to live and not die. 

          This ultimate weapon is a secret weapon.  It is an advantage that every born again believer has and can use that will put the enemy to flight and cause his defeat every time.  It always works.  It never fails. 

Let’s discover what it by examining a passage of Scripture in the Old Testament and discovering the miracle victory that it wrought in the face of an impossible situation.

It came to pass after this… 

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.  2Chr. 20:1  

Notice that this impossible came to pass “after this..”  What is the “after this”?  If you will note, Jehoshaphat, one of the few Godly kings in the history of the Kingdom of Judah, had launched a campaign to destroy the “groves” which were in reality, altars to false gods, and had determined to seek God with all his heart. 

Every major attack begins and intensifies after some great spiritual victory.  When we win, we must not relax.  In the time of victory, we cannot afford to ease up on our faith.   The most critical time to pray and seek God and hold steady is when all is going well.

Others beside the Ammonites came against Jehoshaphat…

It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat.    2 Chron 20: 1 ¶ 

          Who are the children of Moab, Ammon and the “others” that came with them to fight against Jehoshaphat? Jehoshaphat was king of Judah for 25 years and was one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings.    The “others” were  enemies of God that had been spared by Judah’s disobedience and had now united in a massive effort to destroy everything and all things that represented God. 

          Every sin that is not confessed and every act of disobedience will unite one day and rise up in defiance of the God Who lives in us.  They will surround our faith and plan attacks on our Christian commitment.  These “little foxes”  (Song 2:15) that spoil the vines will grow in number until they become a life-threat to us, our seed and our need.

When God commands us to destroy the enemy, we had best destroy the enemy.  When God says for us to do that thing that seems so “hard” He is doing it so that we will be protected in the days ahead.  The enemies that seem to surround us could very well be sins and carnal situations that we have not dealt with and forsaken.      

Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitudeagainst thee from beyond the sea…  2Chr. 20:2 

          Some came and told Jesohaphat the bad news.  They were bearers of bad news.  Seems like there are always messengers who are anxious to bring bad news.  Bad news travels faster than good news.  Unspiritual individuals had rather convey bad news than good news.  Times have not changed all that much, have they?  The ones who bring the distressing news usually do nothing to help ease the pain.  They will more than likely embellish the bad news and make it worse than it actually is.   They will make the bad worse.  They will exaggerate the negative and minimize the positive.  “Some came and told…” 

Our test is how we react to the bad news that is told us.    Our response to those “things which come against us” will reveal our level of faith and trust in God. 

 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  2Chr. 20:3  

And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.  2Chr. 20:4

          The king did some right things and he did some wrong things.  He probably did more that was right than we would do under similar circumstances. 

          First, he feared.  If this “fear” is considered “reverence” then it’s OK.  But if it is the “afraid” and “terrorified” kind of fear then it is bad.  If  “reverential” fear can make us seek the face of God, then that will cancel the devil’s intention to destroy us.  

          Second, the devil lost because the king not only set himself to seek the face of God, he proclaimed a fast throughout the entire nation.  He was motivated to seek God and to seek God before all else.  The whole nation of Judah came together to seek God.  Can you see just how the strategy of the devil backfired on him?  Satan came to destroy but instead, every city in the entire nation began to seek God. The devil is really a dummy.

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,  2Chr. 20:5  

          The King was not ashamed.  He knew he needed God and he was not too timid to tell the whole world.  He swallowed his kingly pride.  He understood that if God did not intervene, then, all would be lost.  He stood in the presence of the entire nation and prayed a prayer seeking God’s help.

If only our leaders of this hour would do this!   If national leaders of today would do what Jehoshaphat did, we would see Great Awakenings all over the earth.  It may well be that some desperate catastrophic condition could develop on a global scale.  We need to pray that if and when that might happen, our leaders will seek God, repent and turn again to the moral and spiritual standard of the Word of God. 

Listen to the king’s prayer:

 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and  rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?    2Chr. 20:6    

            The king acknowledges the sovereignty of God.  Jesus prayed this way and He told us to pray this way as well.  “Our Father, Who art in heaven…”   Respect for and reverence of Jehovah God is the hallmark of a righteous nation.   Ps 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. The result of “forgetting God” on a national level is that the forgetful nation will be turned into hell (a place of exhile). 

Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel,  and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? 2Chr. 20:7  

And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 2Chr. 20:8  

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 2Chr. 20:9  

The King reminded God of His help in the past of His commitment of promised deliverance whenever the need arose.  In the presence of God, when people who are afflicted cry out, He will hear and help.

And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 2Chr. 20:10  

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 2Chr. 20:11  

The time  has come!   It has arrived!  It is time for God to come on the scene and fulfill His Word.  The enemy comes to “reward” with death, destruction and captivity.  This is certainly not the inheritance of the saints.  Our inheritance is life, protection and deliverance. 

O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chr. 20:12  

“God will you keep Your Word?  God will you honor Your Name?  God will you defend the helpless and judge the ungodly?  We have no help but You.  You are our Defense.  You are our Salvation.  You are our Deliverer.  We do not really know what to do, but our eyes are upon You and we are seeking Your face.”  Folks, this is the kind of praying that gets results!  

In the time of seeking God, the Spirit of the Lord “Came Upon” one of the preachers and he began to prophecy.

And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 2Chr. 20:13  

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 2Chr. 20:14  

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2Chr. 20:15  

          The Word of the Lord which came to Jahaziel was a word of great encouragement. And this is generally what any “word” that comes from God is… it is encouraging and edifying.  The people were told:

          1.  Be not afraid.

          2.  Be not dismayed (discouraged).

          3.  Do not let this reason (great multitude) distress  you.

          4.  The Battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.

Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 2Chr. 20:16  

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 2Chr. 20:17  

          The best defense in our spiritual warfare is a good offense.  Our aggressiveness will send shock waves through hell and startle and strike fear in the heart of our enemy.  Judah was told to “Go down against them” even though they were greatly outnumbered and out equipped.  To attack when the “odds” are stacked against us is a demonstration of Great Faith.   Such raw and radical faith will assure us that we won’t even have to fight.  God will do the fighting for us.  The battle will be His and the victory will be ours.  Hallelujah! 

 Judah was again assured: “stand still and you will see the Salvation of the Lord.”

                   1.  Do not be afraid

                   2.  Do not be dismayed (discouraged).

                   3.  The Lord will be with you.

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 2Chr. 20:18  

          True Worship is a type of warfare.  Jesus called those who worship in spirit and in truth True Worshippers.  

 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Joh 4:23   

The devil cannot stand against true worshippers and true worship.  If we really want put Satan on the run, we just need to begin worshipping God in spirit and in truth.    As we sincerely turn our attention to God in adoration and true worship, we  can’t help but focus on His ability and not ours. 

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.2Chr. 20:19  

          Genuine Praise is a type of warfare.  Praise is the “exciting” side of true worship.  As we  “noise abroad” our exuberance and joy and thanks to God,  the depression, fear and anxiety of the pressing situation diminishes.  When the enemy “comes in” just have a personal “praise service” with God.  Put on some lively praise music… sing some praise choruses… rehearse some praise psalms….  Praise pays by scattering our enemy and putting him to flight. 

…Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.2Chron 20:20

Believing in the Lord is faith.  It is trusting God in the face of failure and defeat.  It is standing on the Word when all else has failed.  It is the one thing we can do that is guaranteed to “please God” because the Word declares that “without faith it is impossible to please Him…”  (Heb 11:6)

          Our faith causes us to be “established.”  The particular word used here is associated with being “parented” much like the experience of a tiny baby being nursed by its mother.  There can be no place more confident and safe than that of an infant being held in its mother’s arms and being given nourishment and strength at her breast.  This is what faith does for us when we face impossible situations and formidable conflicts. 

          Not only does our faith establish us but when we believe the prophets God sends into our lives, we are guaranteed prosperity.  We cannot lose for winning.  Every spiritual battle is a win-win situation when we trust and rely on God.   

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD;for his mercy endureth for ever. 2Chr. 20:21  

The Believer’s Ultimate Weapon is Praise

It is a weapon of mass destruction.  It is invincible and fail-safe.  It is more powerful than armies.  Praise precedes the sword.  Praise is more powerful than the sword.  Praise goes before the army.  Praise prepares the way for victory.

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushmentsagainst the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2Chr. 20:22  

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them:and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 2Chr. 20:23  

          Praise causes the enemy to self destruct.  In the fierceness of the fight, praise will make Satan turn on himself.  It confuses the devil.  It confounds demons.  It startles the powers of darkness.  It reveals just how dumb and stupid and weak the devil is.  

And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 2Chr. 20:24  

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.  Psa 91:7 

 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Psa 91:8 

And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.2Chr. 20:25  

          The spoils of a successful spiritual victory are always superabundant.

  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Eph 3:20    

In Jehoshaphat’s case, they reaped riches in such abundance it took them three whole days to haul all the stuff away.  

          This account of supernatural victory is just an example of what can be accomplished when we turn in total abandonment to God and the promises of His Word.  All seemed lost in Jehoshaphat’s day.  But the darkest day of satanic threat was turned into one of the brightest days of victory for the God-fearing king of Judah. 

And the neat thing about all of this is that what God did for this helpless leader of Judah He will do for you and me.  God is no respecter of persons and what He does for one trusting individual, He will do for any trusting individual. 

           Let’s activate our Ultimate Spiritual Weapon.  Let’s go before the fighters and the warriors singing and shouting and dancing and rejoicing.  Let’s praise the Lord.  Let’s “stand still” and “see” what God will do when we Praise in times of great trial.  This Ultimate Weapon will, when used, guarantee that we will live and not die.  Hallelujah.

Word for Today:  October 30

Behold Jesus as a Perfect Man

ALL the miracles that Jesus performed while He was on earth were performed by a Human Being Full of the Holy Ghost and Power.  What He did… we can do.  What He accomplished as a Man, we can accomplish as men and women full of the Holy Ghost and living in that anointing.

He spoke to storms and they stopped.  He spit and made mud from it, put it on blind eyes and they were opened.  He confronted demon powers and they feared and trembled and begged for mercy.  He touched crippled and broken bodies and they were made whole.   He spoke healing to the sick and diseased and they were healed.  He received sinners and had mercy on the guilty.  He loved the unlovable and had compassion on the masses.  He raised the dead… cleansed lepers… resisted the devil… opened graves… interrupted funerals and restored the dead to their families…   He made wine out of water… friends out of enemies… peace out of confusion and torment… joy out of sadness and Heaven out of hell…  And then He told us that:

greater works than these shall ye do; because I go unto my Father… John 14:12.

Jesus is our Example.  Jesus is our Pattern.  Jesus is the guarantee that we can overcome the devil and take dominion over the powers of darkness.

What He did… we can do

My God shall supply all your needaccording to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus…  Phil 4:19

           Name your need.  Every need has a name.  Name yours right now.  Say what it is.   Say it out loud.  Tell yourself what it is.  Tell God what it is (even though He already knows).  Then tell the devil God is going to meet that need. 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us…  Eph 3:20

Confess.  Confess means to say.  To confess something we say it  and we say it with conviction and authority.

Confess:

• God is Able.   
• God is Able to Do.   
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly. 
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above.   
• God is Able to Do Exceedingly Abundantly Above All that I Ask.   
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think.  
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think According to the POWER.
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS.
• God is Able to Do Exceeding Abundantly Above All that I Ask or Think according to the POWER that WORKS in ME. 

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 2Kgs. 7:3  

If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 2Kgs. 7:4  

And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 2Kgs. 7:5  

For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 2Kgs. 7:6  

            Why sit we here till we die?  Why do we do the same things over and over and foolishly expect them to change?

          If we are not making positive changes, things (your situations or circumstances) will never improve.  If we are not moving (doing something) we are sliding back.  If we are not pressing on, we are retreating.  If we are not spiritually ahead of where we were last week, we are dying and not living.

          We need to discover what it means to “press through” in order to live and not die.  We need to discover what it means to press through to get to Jesus.  When we make it “through” to Jesus, we will move into living and not dying. 

          There will always be obstacles and barriers to prevent us from getting close to Jesus…. Satan will see to that.  Are we willing to “press through” and to persist until we break into the very presence of Jesus? 

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Mark 2:4

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. Mark 5:27

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Lu 19:3

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:14

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Lu 11:8

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. Gen 32:24

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. Gen. 32:25 

 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen. 32:26 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.  Dan 3:16 

 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:17 

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:18 

          Remember the 4 faithful ones who carried the man sick with palsy to where Jesus was? They could not enter the house nor get close to Jesus because of the “press” but they did not stop.  They pressed through.

          Remember the woman with an issue of blood?   She would not be stopped.  She would not be denied.  She persisted… she was determined… she took great risks… but she “pressed through” and got to Jesus and touched Him.

          Remember Zacchaeus?  He was the little man who was hidden in the crowds.  He wanted to see Jesus but he couldn’t because of the hindrances… he was small of stature and the crowds were great.  But he “pressed through” and climbed a sycamore tree and saw Jesus.  When he did, Jesus went home with him.  

          Remember Jacob?   He refused to let go or turn loose  until the angel blessed him.   He held on.  He would not turn loose.  He persisted.  He pressed through.

          Remember Paul? In the midst of the deadly storm he determined to press through to the promise rather than consider the problem.   He said, “I believe God.”

And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. Acts 27:22  

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Acts 27:23  

Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Acts 27:24  

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Acts 27:25  

          I am determined to press through.  I am determined to hold on.  I am determined to believe God.  I have set my face like flint to seek Jesus and to know Jesus as I have never known Him in my life.  How about you?   Are you set in your mind and determined in your will to PRESS THROUGH? 

          How do we get God’s supply to our need (Phil 4:19)?   He surely has it.  And He wants to give it to us.  How do we get it?  Our quest to live and not die begins with our willingness to Press Through.

          God has the supply to meet our need.  Kingdom principles in operation will draw from God’s supply and satisfy our need.  The Bible is our operation Manual.  It is alive with God’s power and will provide the answer we are seeking. 

          There is a Kingdom Keythat will unlock the door to God’s Supply and channel that supply to our Need.  We can boldly and confidently confess: 

Our God whom we serve is Able to Deliver us.   Dan 3:17

          God wants us to prosper in everything we set our hand to.  He wants us to live and not die.  God wants us well, full of wisdom, overcoming worry, prospering, living in complete deliverance from all Satan’s snares and temptations, strong in mind and body, mature and complete and perfect.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pet. 3:9  

          God has resources to get us where He wants us.  He has the ABILITY to get us where He wants us and to give us what He wants us to have. It is obvious that we cannot make it on our own… We need God!  That is why many are failing in certain areas of their lives right now.  They need God and they need to press through.  

          There are many instances in the Bible where people  pressed through to God.    Now, if they can, we can.  God is no respecter of persons.  If they did, we should.  If they received, we can receive.  God has not changed nor has Satan.  The same Word that defeated the devil then still works and will work for us.  Today.  Now. 

          Mark chapter 5 is our text. 

• In this chapter, Jesus conquered demons, disease and death. 

• The man from Gadara who was full of demons got delivered. 

• The woman with the issue of blood got healed of her disease.

• The daughter of the synagogue ruler who was sick and died was raised from the dead. 

The woman with an issue of blood is our example. 

She had a serious need 

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, Mark 5:25 

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Mark 5:26 

          Her need was not a new need.  Her problem had existed for a long time.  She had been sick for 12 years.  During these 12 years the Scripture tells us that she suffered.  She was vexed and tormented by this persistent problem.   That is what the does.  He comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.  His mission is to keep you from living and make you die. 

          She not only suffered physically, but she spent all she had.  She was sick and dying and she was broke.  She had been sick and that sickness had used up all her financial resources.  She had spent all she had and was still sick. 

          Not only was she sick and broke and she never got any better… instead she grew worse and worse.  She was caught up in a hopeless and futile and fatal of circumstances.  This is just the kind of case Jesus specializes in resolving. 

          Is this like you?  Have you been vexed and tormented for years by the enemy?  Has he robbed from you and made you miserable?  Have you wearied in your warfare with him?  Does it seem like he will never quit or let up or ease up?  Have you suffered at the hand of Satan?  Have you done all you knew to do and yet you got worse?   Spent all you had and yet was nothing bettered? 

          Have you seen no improvement and experienced no relief in spite of your efforts?  Are you worse and not better? Are you dying and not living?    Then you are at the right place at the right time! .  Today is your Day of Deliverance.  Your need will be supplied according to God’s Riches in Glory by and through Christ Jesus.  Your “nothing better, growing worse”  situation is just about over.  You will be better and you will not grow worse.  You will live and not die! 

She heard about Jesus   

When she had heard of Jesus…   Mark 5:27 

           This woman had heard about Jesus.  Now just what do you think she had heard?  Did she hear that the “day of miracles is over”?  Did she hear that in this “dispensation” healing did not work?  Did she hear that the “supernatural” has no place in modern, structured, organized churches?  Did she hear that the “gifts of the Holy Ghost” and “tongues” were not for today? Did she hear that parts of the Bible are really just embellished stories that are not true?   

           What do you think that she heard?  I’ll tell you exactly what she heard: She heard that Jesus was healing the sick and raising the dead and casing out devils.  She heard and knew that Jesus had the supply for her need.  She heard that Jesus could and would make her live and keep her from dying. 

           If she had heard all this negative stuff that most people are hearing in their churches today, she would have a hard time believing.  She would have been religious, but she would have been wrong.  She would have been “theologically correct” but she would have died and not lived.

          What have you heard about Jesus?   What you hear about Jesus should determine where you go to church.  Because where you go to church will determine what you hear about Jesus.  If the Gospel is limited and restrained and watered-down where you go to church, you will not get what you need from God and God will not get what He wants from you and you will die and not live. 

She risked her life to get close to Jesus 

She came in the press behind, and touched his garment  Mark 5:27

          She actually risked her life to get where Jesus was.  In her day and according to the Law of Moses, she was ceremonially “unclean” because of her issue of blood and was subject to being stoned to death if she was caught out in public.  The Law required her to remain in seclusion because she was considered “unclean” and “impure.”  But, she counted the cost, made her decision and moved out in faith.  She faced certain and horrific death if she were caught… but she determined to get to where Jesus was.  She gave her all.  She pressed through. She risked her life. 

          Some today cannot risk a ball game or a fishing trip;  a television program; a vacation or game of golf to get where Jesus is. Some will not risk religion or tradition or custom or denomination to get where Jesus is.  Others refuse to risk comfort, convenience and time and effort.  No wonder we have trouble getting what Jesus has for us. 

          This woman ventured out.  She launched out.  She pressed through.  She believed, trusted, risked her life and in great desperation, set her course to get her need met and receive her healing.  She did not wait until later or for a more convenient set of circumstances… she moved in the midst of great risk because she knew Jesus had her answer.  

          Do you believe Jesus has your answer today?  Yes or no? Are you willing to take some risks in order to get through to Jesus?  Is your reputation more important than your need?  Are your so called “friends” more important to you than receiving the answer to your dilemma?   Are your relatives standing in your way?  Are they preventing you from launching out and venturing out and moving on with God?  What reason do you have for waiting until some other time than right now?

          Some are being held back and restrained and hindered because they are afraid of what others will think or say if they risk all in order to gain Jesus.  We need to learn from this desperate, needy, dying woman… she risked everything and lost nothing but her sickness… her critical need.     She pressed through and received exactly what she needed; her deliverance from death.   

She was determined to get to Jesus   

She came in the press behind, and touched his garment.  Mark 5:27 

The word “press” in this verse comes from the Greek word meaning “riot.”  There was actually  a “riot” going on around Jesus, yet this woman was determined to press through in order to get to Jesus.  She would not be denied!  She would not give up because of a difficult situation. She did not quit in the face of an impossibility.    She was not discouraged and she did not back down… she ignored “reason” and made up her mind to get her answer; she refused defeat and delay. 

          She was desperate and she was determined.  She knew Jesus had her answer.  She refused to allow Satan to prevent her from getting what was rightfully hers.  Now, what “riot” is hindering you?  What difficulty or impossibility has made you give up and quit?  Are you not willing to come through the “press” in order to touch Jesus?  How desperate are you to live and not die? Pressing through is never easy and it is never convenient.  It always demands commitment, determination and boldness.

          The magnitude of the problem did not hinder the woman.  The impossibility of the situation did not prevent her from keeping on!  The “riot” was not big enough to keep her away from Jesus.  If you will come through the press (fight through every difficulty) you can touch Jesus, too.    Demon forces will fight you.  Satanic powers will resist you.  Hell will rise up against you.  Will you come through the press?  Jesus is here now… one touch and you will live and not die.

She received what she believed   

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:29 

          (1) She believed that JESUS could heal her and would heal her.  She believed in spite of what others said or thought or did.  She risked her life to get where Jesus was.  She knew her healing depended on what she did with what she believed. 

          (2) She made a powerful verbal faith-confession.  “If I may only touch His clothes, I SHALL be whole.”   Notice her faith:  “I shall be (not may be or hope to be or one day will be) but I shall be WHOLE.”  (“whole” here is the Greek sozo which is the all-inclusive word for “salvation”:  it means be delivered… be healed… be saved… be protected… be prospered… be preserved).

          (3) She did what she confessed.  She said and then she did.  Her faith was followed with action.   Faith without works is dead  (Jas 2:20) or “faith without corresponding action is no good…”  She acted on what she believed.

          (4) She received what she believed.  “And straightway (immediately) the fountain of her blood (unchecked for 12 years) was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”   

God knows when a believer presses through     

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? Mark 5:30 

          Jesus knew that “virtue” (dunamis: miraculous, wonder-working power) had “gone out of Him”…   Many were touching Him but only ONE touched him in faith.  The faith touch is a “different touch.”  It is the “faith touch” that pleases God.  He delights in His children pressing through to touch Him.  He knows when it happens and He delights in it.

           “Without Faith it is impossible to please Him.”  How long has it been since you pressed through to God?  Would you like to receive His power today?  Would you like for His supply to meet your need today?  You can come to Him but you might have to come through the press of things around you.   One touch will change your life and set you free.  Don’t be discouraged or dismayed or afraid.   Right now press through and touch Jesus.   You will be made whole…. just like this courageous woman with an issue of blood and you will live and not die.    

Word for Today:  October 29

There is only one fool-proof evidence of the New Birth.

Jesus gave this criteria to us in His Word.  This is the one most important characteristic of the Christian Walk.  Nothing is more important than this.  This one demand and one command is basic.  Jesus talked about it more than anything else and He demonstrated it more perfectly than any other message of His earthly ministry.  He longed to see it in His disciples and He knew that it would be the basis for the New Testament Church.  If the Church is to BE what Jesus died for it to be and if the Church is to DO what He died for it to do, then this one thing is absolutely necessary.

I am convinced that this is the greatest need in this hour.  It is a need for the Church and it is a need for all Evangelical Ministries.  It is perhaps the greatest need in your life as a Believer.  It is not impossible.  It is possible.  It is necessary.  It is vital.  It is fundamental to the continuation of the Gospel on earth.

Jesus called this a “new commandment.”  A new commandment I give unto you…  (John 13:34)  He knew that He was soon to depart and He wanted so desperately for His followers to be adequately equipped to continue His Ministry on earth.  He did not emphasize theology.  He did not emphasize education.  He did not emphasize experience or ability.  He brought attention to the one thing that will guarantee the continued success of the Gospel Message.

He also stated that this would be the one qualifying characteristic that would cause the world to know how we stand with God.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples… (John 13:35)   BY THIS….

This is the one thing that will tell the world where you stand with God.  And this is the greatest thing needed in the world today.

That thing is LOVE

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Php 2:5 

That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled… II Thes 2:2

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cor. 10:5

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb12: 1

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.   Heb12:2 

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Heb12:3 

          In Hebrews chapter 12, the Christian walk is compared to an athletic race.  The crowds are present.  The stadium is full.  The course is before us.  We must win.  We will win.  Second place will not do.  The success of our calling is at stake and nothing short of championship will do.  WE MUST WIN. 

          There are obstacles and hindrances on the track.  There are many opportunities to fail and not finish our course.  There are many distractions along the way.  There are opportunities to quit and accept defeat.  To give in to fatigue or weariness or weakness will cause our opponent to get ahead.  It will cause  us to lose the race.  We were born again to win and WE MUST WIN.

          Every Believer is in this race.  You are in this race.  You will run or you will give up.  You will win or you will lose.  Every believer is on the track… and so is the devil our adversary and opponent. 

Notice:

There is a Great Cloud of Witnesses surrounding us 

          They are watching and they are cheering. They are pulling for us. They have gone before us; they have finished the race and they are winners.  They know what is before us and they know the challenges we will face.  They also know that we can win.  They have won and they know we can win.  They are on our side.  They want us to win.  They are in heaven’s grand stand and they are cheering for us.  They watch and they observe… Our victory is important to them.

We are to lay aside hindrances or weights that will keep us from doing our best

          Runners who win strip off their outer garments in order to lighten their  load so they can use all their energy and strength in running the race.  Anything that will keep us from running fast must be put off.  If it is flab… it has to be taken off.  If it is unnecessary weights… they must be thrown off.  In our spiritual race, if it is a defective mind condition… our mind must be renewed.  In order to be a champion, our mind needs to be convinced that we can win.  It needs to think “I am going to win.”  It needs to believe “Nobody on this track is faster than I am.”  It needs to resolve “I am not stopping until I am number one…” It needs to visualize… “I can see that championship trophy on the shelf in my den…”

We are to Run with Patience        

          We are to run bearing up under every pressure and difficulty.  If we run with patience, then patience is running alongside of us.     Patience is willing to wait for the proper time to “make our move.”  Patience gives us assurance because it is not moved by the immediate.  Patience means that we are assured of victory regardless of how the race appears because God is with us and God never fails.

We are to Look to Jesus as we run

          What the runner focuses on (looks at) will keep him moving directly toward the goal… the finish line.  Distractions will delay the victory and could cause defeat. 

          Jesus is the GOAL and the FINISH LINE.  He is the VICTOR’S CIRCLE.  We stay ahead when we focus on Him.  We will win as long as we LOOK to HIM. 

We are to Consider Him when we get tired and weary and are tempted to quit

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:3 

          The Believer’s greatest temptation is to give up and give in.  Fatigue will attack us.  Weariness will want us to slow down, to rest, and even quit.  In times of great stress and trial and crisis… when it seems that all has failed… we are tempted to faint in our minds. 

          The way to fix our mind… our “fainting” mind… our “shaken” mind… our “weary” mind is by “considering Jesus.”   To “consider” is to “think about” and to “ponder”; to “contemplate.”    The next verse (4) tells us that we have not gotten to the point where we actually “shed blood” over our stressed out condition. 

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb 12: 4

When we think about the suffering, the torture, the humiliation Jesus endured, we really have no right to complain.  Or to give out.  Or to give up.  Or to quit. 

What “kind” of mind did Jesus have?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:5 

 Jesus knew Who He was   

          He knew why He left heaven.  He knew what He came to earth to accomplish.  There was never any doubt in His mind as to Who He was or what He was here on earth for. He had a single mind.  He knew He was the Son of God.   He knew what He was born to do and His mind was set on accom­plishing His mission. 

          Believers need to know who they are.  What does the Bible say about us?  Who has God made us to be and what have we been birthed into through the Redemptive Work of Jesus?  When we receive a revelation of who we are, we can begin to think like Jesus thinks.  When we think like Jesus we are positioned to do what He did.  Jesus tells us that we are capable of doing “greater works” than even He accomplished. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Joh 14:12 

Check out who the Bible says we are and what the Bible says we can do:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12   

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13    

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20  

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matt. 28:18  

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by grace ye are saved;) Eph. 2:5    

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph. 2:6  

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Cor. 5:21    

Satan is the father of all liars.  Notice what he will try to do by lying to us:        

• He will cause us to doubt in our mind. 
• He will make us wonder if we are really saved.
• He will tell us that we are so messed up that we can never please God. 
• H will convince us that we are the worse person alive. 
• He will make us feel like a hypocrite. 
• He will cause us to think that all this Holy Ghost stuff is foolishness.
• He will make us consider just how ridiculous it is to speak in tongues and to dance before God and to experience the joy of the Holy Ghost. 
• He will constantly remind us that intelligent people…educated people… cultured people…. well-balanced people… would not be caught dead in a Spirit-Filled Church. 
• He will attempt to make us reason and “think through” this Pentecostalism stuff. 
• He wants you to back off and backslide because he knows that the TRUTH will defeat him. 

The Truthwill make us free.  And the truth is that we are Flesh and Bone and Blood with GOD inside of us.  That is what the Bible says about us.    

Jesus knew His Father

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3  

          He was intimate with Him.  He knew His Will and He knew His heart.  He was in agreement with His Father.  He talked with Him and He loved Him and He had continual fellowship with Him.  Jesus knew His Father. 

What does it mean to “know” God? 

It means much more than religion has taught us.  It means more than most preachers and teachers have told us.  It means more than praying.  It means more than joining a church.  It means more than walking down an aisle and shaking a preacher’s hand.  It means more than being baptized. 

• Knowing God is not knowing about God. 
• Knowing God is not understanding the works of God. 
• Knowing God is not belonging to a church. 
• Knowing God is not being religious. 
• Knowing God is not even being “spiritual.” 
• Knowing God is not being good, kind, sweet or generous. 
• Knowing God is not knowing the Bible. 
• Knowing God is not being holy.
• Knowing God is not being righteous.
• Knowing God is not having a good testimony.
• Knowing God is not being an official in the church.
• Knowing God is not doing good works.
• Knowing God is not praying or giving or being faithful to some church.

          Jesus said that some who think that they KNOW God do not know Him at all.

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21   

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matt. 7:22  

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:23  

          The majority of Christians today are in a superficial and shallow relationship with God.  Charismatics can be in that majority.  Full-Gospel people can be in that majority.  Spiritual people can be in that majority.  Most believers are merely acquainted with God.  Few are deeply intimate with God.   Living with Him in an intimate, close, personal, private, relationship, is knowing God. 

The word know appears 464 times in the Old Testament and 299 times in the New Testament.  In some places it implies a surface relationship and in others it implies a deep, personal, intimate, loving relationship.  Some forms of this word are so intimate that it is used to describe the loving, passionate, Scriptural sexual relationship that is shared between husband and wife in marriage. 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Phil. 3:10  

          As outstanding as the Apostle Paul was, he had a longing to “know Him.”  He authored more than two-thirds of the New Testament and is considered one of the most educated and dedicated Christians of all time… yet, his heart’s desire was to really know God. 

Jesus knew the Word 

          He knew the Word because He is the Living Word!  He was familiar with God’s plan and purpose for Israel and for the Gentiles.  He knew what God said about Him.  He knew what the Word declared regarding His death, burial and resurrection.  He was no doubter.  He was a believer.  He knew the Word.  Jesus spoke the Word.  Jesus thought the Word.  Jesus used the Word as a weapon against the devil.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. Hebr. 10:35  

          Jesus had confidence in the Word.  He trusted in the Word.  He relied on the Word.  He depended on the Word.

          Jesus released the Word from His heart of faith and when He did miracles hap­pened.  The sick were healed.  The blind received their sight.  The lame walked.  Those who were demon pos­sessed were set free.  The powers of na­ture obeyed the Word that Jesus spoke.  Jesus knew the Word. 

Jesus knew what He could do

          He was certain and sure of His author­ity.  Jesus knew He had power over all the power of the enemy.  He never doubted what He could do and He was not afraid to do it.  Jesus knew what He could do and He knew the limitations of the devil.  He knew about spiritual warfare and He knew He could win every conflict and conquer every de­mon. 

Jesus had a winning mental­ity 

          He had no fear.  In His mind, He never considered defeat.  He never gave in to worry or fear or anxiety.  Even in the times of great con­tradictions, He maintained His win­ning mentality.  Even before and dur­ing the crucifixion, He never conceded to defeat.  He exercised victory over death by willingly giving up the spirit of life.

 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46    

 No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I re­ceived of my Father. John 10:18 

Jesus had Faith

He lived by Faith and He walked by Faith. 

He used His faith to pay His taxes. 

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.   Matt. 17:27   

          He used His Faith to stop a storm. 

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  Mark 4:39   

           He used His Faith to see what was not and to call things that were not as though they were.  Jesus had a mind that was filled with the Word.

          He used His faith to raise the dead.  

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.   John 11:44   And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:43  

          He used His faith to heal the sick: 

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. Matt. 8:14   

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Matt. 8:15  

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Matt. 8:16  

He used His Faith to cast out devils:

 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Mark 9:25  

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. Mark 5:12

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. Mark 5:13  

          How amazing that the Bible tells us to have the mind of Christ!  Even more amazing is the fact that you and I can literally have His mind!  The acquisition of this kind of mind is really up to us… it is our responsibility. 

          Notice Paul says “Let” this mind be in you….  The understood subject of this statement is “you.”  Because only “you” can “let” it happen.  It is a command.  It is a possibility.  It is an imperative… if we are to succeed in living and not dying.

Word for Today:  October 28

Has God ever come to rescue you in the past?

Has He ever gotten there in the “nick of time?”  Just consider the many times He has reached down and picked you up.  Held your hand.  Helped you to your feet again.   Remembering the Faithfulness of God in the past is a great deterrent to discouragement and despair in the present.  IF God was there then, He is there now.  If God was able then, He is able now.

Are you ready for deliverance?  Have you come to the place of casting all your care on Him?  Will you “give up” with your own efforts and trust God Totally?

An experienced mountain climber got caught on the face of a mountain.  He had fallen and dropped to the very end of his life line.  It was dark.  It was beginning to snow and a blizzard was approaching.  He hung on in the blinding snow and in the dark.  He knew he could not survive the night exposed on the mountain side.  He was not really praying man, but he began to pray:  “Dear God, please help me.  Tell me what I must do to be delivered.  Speak to my heart and give me some direction… if you don’t I’m going to die.”

The voice of God spoke to him and said:  “Let Go.”  The climber refused because he was afraid.  He was convinced that if he turned loose he would fall thousands of feet to his death.

They found him the next day hanging on the end of the safety line… frozen to death.  One foot below his dangling feet was a ledge… a ledge large enough for him to find refuge from the storm and deliverance from certain death.

Let Go.  Trust God.

He’s Always There

The thief cometh not, but for to steal,  and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10  

          There are only two kinds of people on earth.  And I do not mean men and women.  They are either Alive people or Dead people.  You can be dead before you are dead.  If you are Alive you know it.  If you are  Dead you know it.  The devil is the mer­chant of death.  Jesus is the Giver of life.      

          The ultimate purpose and mission of the devil is to steal, kill and destroy; we find this out in John 10:10.  The devil deals in death and destruction.  Jesus gives LIFE and brings RESTORATION.   All problems and at­tacks are designed by Satan to steal your goods, take your life, and destroy you and anything and everything you have.   The devil wants death and destruc­tion to overtake you. 

On the contrary, Jesus wants Life and Restoration to overtake you.   How did Jesus deal with death?  The Bible says He conquered death, hell and the grave.  Because He did, they are still conquered.  If we can see and understand how Jesus dealt with death, we can deal with it the same way.   

“Death” comes in many forms.  It is more than dying a natural death and becoming a corpse.  Death can come into a marriage.  Death can come into a business.  Death can come in the form of sickness and disease.  Death can come into a family, a relationship or any situation in the human experience. 

As we consider how Jesus dealt with death, we can learn some valuable lessons that can bring a resurrection into any “death” experience we may be facing. 

Let’s look at how Jesus dealt with the death of His friend Lazarus.

Every Death Attack is an Opportunity  

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4  

          Jesus “heard” the bad report that His friend Lazarus had died.  We know that faith comes by hearing but doubt also comes by hearing.  Unbelief can be birthed and nourished  by hearing bad news.  Distress can come by hearing a bad report.   Fear can be initiated by hearing negative things.   What are you hearing?  Whatever you are hearing will either build your faith are add to your unbelief.  Jesus determined not to be moved or influenced  by what He heard. 

          Then, Jesus declared with His mouth what the situation was going to be.  He took the opportunity to prophesy what was going to be because he knew the will of God in the matter.   Jesus “heard” and then He “said.”  What He heard did not alter what He said.  He re­fused to give in to the sense realm by be­lieving the opinions of men. 

          “It’s not over.  It’s not final.  It’s not what it’s going to be.  God is working.  I am waiting.  I am believing.  I am speak­ing.  I am prophesying.  What I say is in agreement with God and because of this, the devil (and all his works) will have to move aside.”  This kind of thinking and speaking comes out of a mind that is renewed by the Word and a faith that is founded on the Word.

          Jesus saw sickness is an opportunity.  He even saw death as an opportunity.  In the believer’s life, every impossibility is an opportunity.  Your fiery trial is an opportunity for you to exercise your faith,  to get into the Word and find out what God says.  It is an opportu­nity to turn tragedy into testimony. 

When you see your “death” situation in this light, you will be encouraged to say the same thing Jesus said: “This thing is not unto death…. it is not the end….it is an opportunity for God to show Himself strong in my behalf and to give me a powerful testimony of His Faithfulness.”

          We are all faced with “Lazarus” at­tacks.  What we do and how we act in the midst of such situations will demonstrate just how deep we are in God.   We can say what others are saying.  We can agree with what the facts are.  We can accept the “inevitable” or we can prophesy to the situation.  God has called us into His Kingdom and given us the power to cre­ate with our words the things that are in the will of God.    

          Your fiery trial… your graveyard tribulation… your Red Sea and your furnace heated seven times over… your den of lions and your Goliath…  all these are opportunities for God to get glory and for you to experience a miracle.  Jesus knew that impossibilities are oppor­tunities for God to show Himself strong in behalf of those who would DARE to BELIEVE!

When under pressure:  Don’t Change your Plans 

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.   John 11:6   

          The devil wants you to change di­rections… especially if you are in the will of God.  If you are on the way to where God wants you, then Satan and all the forces of darkness are aligned to make you change your direction and alter your plans. 

Remember how the devil tried to stop Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with the great storm before He made it to the other side?   Here, as He considered the Lazarus situation, Jesus was in the flow of God and was not willing to change His direction just because He re­ceived some bad news.  Jesus stayed.  Sometimes it is hard to stay.  Staying can be standing still.  When we hear of pressing needs and powerful at­tacks, we are tempted to run ahead of God.  Remember… the Battle is the Lord’s but the victory is ours. 

          Satan is the author of all bad news.  Bad news is demonic.  Bad news is a fiery dart of the enemy.  Bad news is Satan’s at­tempt to get you to change your plans and alter your direction.  When you are the receiver of bad news, keep your eyes on your objective… do not allow discour­agement, worry, fear or distractions to make you change your plans in your walk of faith. 

          Job was a man who was a servant of the Most High God.  He had some bad news brought to him… over and over again.  On the very heels of one messen­ger, another would come until it seemed that Job could not stand any more.  And yet “in all of this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly…”  It was the devil attempting to change the course of Jobs life.  Learn from the Life of Jesus…. do not allow demonic pressure to change your faith position. 

          How many times have we wanted Jesus to “hurry up?”  Our need presses us to prompt Jesus to hurry to our rescue.  However, God has a time.  He has a schedule.  And His time is the always the RIGHT TIME.  During tough times, we need to remember that things are happen­ing in the realm of the spirit we can­not see. 

God is working.  The devil is fighting.  We are waiting.  And while we wait, He is working in our behalf.  If He is not hurrying, He has a reason.  Jesus needed to remain where He was in order for God to get the glory for the mira­cle of Lazarus’ resurrection. 

          Remember, when you are in the will of God, you do not have to change your plans when Satan attacks and emer­gencies arise.   Hold steady.  Do not panic.  Stay on your course.  Do not change your plans because of de­monic emergencies. 

Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is Present

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.  John 11:14  

          Nothing can be more final than death.  Death means it’s over.  Death means it’s done.   When you are dead…. you are dead!  It’s over!  It’s finished!  It’s done!  UNLESS Jesus is there!  Listen:

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.   1Cor. 15:26  

          So many times our attitude is like that of Thomas:  “Let us also go, that we may die with him…”   (John 11:16). Thomas was reflecting the normal attitude of most people when they are facing a death situation;  “Oh, well, it’s over.  No need to keep on.  It’s finished.”   However, nothing is FIXED or “set in concrete” in the world system.   Not even death!  Jesus is the Great Changer.   He changes things.  When it seems totally fi­nal and nothing more can be done… when death looms and defeat is at hand and all hope is gone… Nothing is FINAL when Jesus is present.  If He can raise Lazarus from the dead, He is more than able to resurrect your dead hopes and dreams and aspirations.       

          Both Mary and Martha fell into the trap of the “If Syndrome.”

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  John 11:21  

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him,  Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  John 11:32  

          You cannot afford to live in the land of IF.  “If I had just done this… ”  “If I had just said this…”  “If I had tried harder…”  “If ” moves you into the place of legalism and performance-based faith.   IF is not Grace.  IF is works.  IF will short circuit the will of God.  It does not matter who or what you are, what you have done, or what your need may be… all you need is JESUS.  He will erase all your “Ifs”  and  deliver you from your negative thinking. 

Don’t Yield to Religious Thinking

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.   John 11:24  

          Every time you are faced with an impossibility, Religion will attempt to rise up and “explain” the situation.  Religion attempts to make the Word of God agree with the death situation you are experi­encing instead of making the death situa­tion agree with the Word of God.   Religion is dead doctrine.  Religion is self-righteous pride and arrogance.  Religion is form and tradition and legalistic law.  Religion is a heavy burden.  Religion works with the devil to keep you in death.  Religion is deception.  Christianity is not Religion… it is LIFE.    Read Matthew 23 to see what Jesus said about Religion.

          Religion will help the devil kill you and destroy you.  Pious platitudes that look way into the future for pie in the sky by and by will not help you in the NOW.  Most of what Religion taught us about God had nothing to do with the present.  It was either history or Heaven.  God is a God of the NOW.  And Jesus is a Jesus of TODAY.   

Don’t Be Moved by the Opinions of Men

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?  John 11:37  

          What people think and say has nothing to do with what the Word says unless they are thinking with a renewed mind.   All the opinions of men will not heal the sick or raise the dead.  What you say and what you think is worthless unless your WORDS and your THOUGHTS agree with the WORD OF GOD.  

Most who are so quick to give advice and counsel know little or nothing of the power of God.  The ones looking on the death scene Jesus faced, saw the grave and the grieving family and began to murmur.  Skeptics always murmur.  Doubters and unbelievers are always looking for REASONS.  God is not a rea­soning God and He does not operate REASONABLY…  He is a FAITH GOD and He operates in the SUPERNATURAL.  

Attempt the Impossible

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.  John 11:39  

          Jesus “went too far.”  He crossed over the line.  He “lost it.”  When you begin to roll away grave stones from impossible situations, the devil and all his helpers will accuse you of going too far.  “You can’t be serious.”  “You really don’t mean that.”  “Do you realize what you are doing?”  “What will people say?”  “What will my relatives think?”    

 If you never attempt the impossible you will never get a miracle.  When you refuse to roll away the stone, you accept defeat and limit God and stop all miracles from happening.  What stone will you roll away today?  What stinking corpse of impossibility will you drag out, uncover and present to God?

 You will never  get a resurrection if you refuse to roll away the stone.  This is your initial act of faith and it is this very act that moves heaven in your behalf.

Pray Right

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  John 11:41  

          Notice how Jesus prayed.  He refused to pray in doubt and unbe­lief.  “If it be Thy will” praying will never get a miracle or experience a resurrec­tion.  If you know the Word you know the Will!    If you do not know how to pray the Word, you better never roll away the stone. 

Jesus knew (1) What God’s will was,  (2) How to pray in agreement with God’s will, and  (3) How to pray in great faith.  He was sure of His position in God.  He knew who He was and what God had promised to do for Him.  He did not beg.  He did not plead.  He did not an­guish.  He thanked God.  

Speak Faith Boldly

And when he thus had spo­ken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.   John 11:43  

          I get great comfort from this verse.  If Jesus “cried with a loud voice” I guess it’s OK for me to preach with a loud voice.   He boldly and specifi­cally spoke out and called for a miracle.  He “got what He said!”  Remember Mark 11:23?   

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH…   

It’s time for you to roll away the stone and speak (loudly) to your situation! 

Get Free

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave­clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. John 11:44   

          Loose yourself.  Cast off those grave clothes.  Walk out of your tomb.  Get free and stay free.  Do not get entangled again with the yoke of bondage that kept you bound.  Tear off the grave clothes and let new life come forth.  Refuse to stay in the graveyard dressed like the dead, looking like the dead and smelling like the dead.    Get Up.  Get Out. Get Free.  Stay Free.

          This is how Jesus dealt with death.  Since the Word says
“as He is so are we in this world…” we can deal with our death situations just like Jesus did with His. 

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.   1Jo 4:17